Circuit closer for use in a signaling device for motor vehicles



July 25, 1939.A w. PITT 2,167,031

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR USE IN A SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 25, `1939. w. PITT 2,167,031

CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR USE IN A SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. 20, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 25, 1939 CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR USE IN A SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES William Pitt,

Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 20, 1936, Serial No. 96,981

7 Claims.

This invention relates to the combination of a steering wheel such as used on motor vehicles, with a circuit closer.

Pursuant to my invention electrically operated signaling devices and/or other auxiliaries of a ,u that set forth and described wheel to be tilted universally in relation to the fixed axis of the steering wheel shaft.

The excursion of tilting is limited to a predetermined range by the design of the component parts.

Spring pressure maintains the steering wheel and its shaft in alignment when not used as a circuit closer.

A circuit closing device is so disposed that tilting the steering wheel closes the circuits at 5 the will of the operator.

The circuit closing device is mounted on the xed tubular housing enclosing the steering wheel shaft and is therefore stationary, the universally tilting steering wheel provides for the selective operation of the signaling devices without visual attention, or removal of the vehicle operators hands from the steering wheel.

The above will be more fully understood from the following detail description and drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a View oi the steering wheel from above.

Figure 2 is a cross section View on line 2, 2 Figure l.

Figure 3 is a cross section view on line 3, 3 Figure l.

Figure 4 is a View from above the steering wheel of another form of universal mounting.

Figure 5 is a cross section View of Fig. 4 on line 5 Figure 6 is a View from above of another form of universal mounting.

Figure 7 is a drawing of the universal mounting member shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a cross section View of Figure 6, on line 8.

Referring to Figures l, 2, 3, and 4, it is apparent that the steering wheel incorporating my invention resembles the conventional steering 5- Wheel in appearance, II is the shaft, I2 is a circu- (Cl. 20G-59) lar disc member fixed to the shaft II. The disc I2 is suitably drilled to mount the four bolts I3 and the four stud bolts I4. Below the disc I2 the hub section I5 of the steering wheel is held in place by the springs I3a which in turn are held on the bolts I3 by the nuts I3b, the holes in the hub section I5 through which the bolts I3 pass being of such a diameter that they will not bind when the steering wheel is tilted. The stud bolts I4 are tapered on the ends and engage the tapered orifices in the hub section I5, thus eliminating back lash between the disc I2 and the hub section l5 of the steering wheel, the tapered sections of the stud bolts I4 being of sufcient length to maintain engagement with the tapered orices in the hub section I5 when the steering wheel is tilted.

The rim 32 of the steering wheel is iiXed to the hub section I5 by the spokes 33.

The tilting of the steering wheel is limited by the ring section I6, or by adjustment of the nuts I3b on the bolts I3.

The switching mechanism is mounted on the tubular cover I8 which is stationary. The switch Il is made of the di-electric base Ila in which the contact blades IIb and I'Ic are mounted, there being four pairs of contact blades, each pair disposed at ninety degrees around the tubular cover I8, one on the right, one on the left, one above and one below.

The cover I9 is a shell of stamped metal or other suitable material and is fastened to the hub section I5 of the steering wheel in a suitable manner and serves as a cover as well as to operate the switches.

In Figs. 4 and 5 the disc section 2I is fixed to the shaft iI and is provided with four hemispherical projections, said projections engaging four hemispherical depressions formed in the hub section 22 of the steering Wheel, the projections and depressions of the above members being perforated for the mounting of the bolts 23 as shown.

The disc member 2l is held in engagement with the hub member 22 by the springs 23a which are held in place on the bolts 23 by the nuts 23D.

The tilting movement of the steering wheel is limited by the adjustment of the nuts 23h on the bolts 23.

The switching mechanism and cover are the same on Figs. 4 and 5 as described for Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 the disc member 24 is in the form of a radially corrugated plate xed to the shaft II, said disc member 24 meshing with a similarly formed section of the hub member 25, said members 24 and 25 being held in enga-gement by the spring 26 which is held in place by the collar 21 on the shaft II.

The tilting movement of the steering wheel is limited by the adjustment of the collar 21.

The switching mechanism is the same on Figs. 6, 7 and 8 as shown on Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

From the above description of the various parts and their location, it will be obvious that the rim 32 of the steering wheel may be depressed at any point causing the axis of the steering Wheel to change relative to the axis of the shaft II, said change being toward point of depression.

Assume that the operator of the vehicle depresses rim of the steering wheel to the right of the shaft il, causing the steering Wheel to tilt to the right, said tilting will cause the lower rim of the cover I9 adjacent to the switch I7 to move the blade I'Ib into Contact with the blade Ilc, closing the circuit operating a signaling device indicating the intention of the operator of the vehicle to turn right. i

The three other switches are operated in the same manner, the circuit is opened upon cessation of pressure on the rim of the steering wheel by the springs which-are compressed when steering wheel is tilted.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the steering torque is transferred between the hub section I and the disc member by the stud bolts I4, the bolts I3 serving to hold the springs I3ct as well as provide a device for taking the steering torque if the stud bolts I il should fail.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the steering torque is transferred by the engaging projections and depressions.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8, the steering torque is transferred by the meshing of the radial corrugations.

Four circuits are shown; more or less could be used.

The steering wheel rim is depressed at a point relative to the shaft I l, regardless of rotation thus providing selection of signals without visual attention on the part of the operator.

The signals suggested are: right-turn, tilt wheel to the right; left-turn, tilt wheel to the left; slow down or stop, tilt Wheel to the rear and to operate horn or headlight dimmer, tilt wheel forward.

The stop light now in use is of little value because it operates simultaneously with the brake, with no provision for fore-warning.

The present method of signaling with the hand requires keeping the window open in all kinds of weather and is unsafe after Sundown as the hand is not visible and on trucks theiwidth of body is such that the hand will not protrude past the side of the body.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A combination steering Wheel and signaling means for automobiles and the like, comprising, a rotatably mounted shaft, a steering wheel, universal mounting meansintermediate said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means including means to maintain axial alignment of said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means comprising, a disc fixed to said shaft studs in said disc engaging orifices in -a ring section-of said steering wheel,

bolts fixed to said disc, said bolts passing thru orifices in said ring section, springs mounted on said bolts, and a switch disposed to operate by universal movement of said steering wheel.

2. A combination steering wheel and signaling means for automobiles and the like, comprising, a rotatably mounted shaft, a steering wheel, universal mounting means intermediate said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means including means to maintain axial alignment of said steering wheel and said shaft, said universal mounting means comprising, a disc xed to said shaft, studs in said disc engaging orifices in a ring section of said steering wheel, bolts xed to said disc, said bolts passing thru orifices in sad ring section, springs mounted on said bolts, a switch disposed to operate by universal movement of said steering wheel, an enclosure around said universal mounting means and said switch, said enclosure mounted on said steering wheel and disposed to convey tilting movement of said steering wheel to said switch.

3. A combination steering wheel and signaling means for automobiles and the like, comprising, a rotatably mounted shaft, a steering Wheel, universal mounting means intermediate said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means including means to maintain axial alignment of said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means comprising, a disc with projections formed thereon, said disc xed to said shaft, said projections engaging recesses formed in a ring section of said steering wheel, bolts iixed to said disc, said bolts passing thru orifices in said ring section, springs mounted on said bolts, and a switch disposed to operate by tilting of said steering wheel.

4. A combinationsteering wheel and signaling means for automobiles and the like, comprising, a rotatably mounted shaft, a steering wheel, universal mounting means intermediate said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means including means to maintain axial alignment of said steering wheel and said shaft, said universal mounting means comprising, a disc with projections formed thereon, said disc fixed to said shaft, said projections engaging recesses in a ring section of said steering wheel, bolts fixed to said disc, said bolts passing thru orices in said ring section, springs mounted on said bolts, aswitch disposed to operate by tilting of said steering wheel, an enclosure around universal mounting means and said switch, said enclosure mounted on steeringwheel and disposed to convey tilting movement of steering wheel to said switch.

5. A combination steering wheel and signaling means for automobiles and the like, comprising, a rotatably mounted shaft, a steering wheel, universal mounting means intermediate said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means including means to maintain axial alignment of said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means comprising a disc fixed to said shaft, projections on said disc engaging recesses in the hub section of said steering wheel, springs maintaining said projections in engagement with said recesses, and a switch disposed to operate by universal movement of said steering wheel.

6. A combination steering wheel and signaling means for automobiles and the like, comprising a rotatably mounted shaft, a steering wheel, universal mountingmeans intermediate said shaft and said steeringwheel, said universal mounting.

means including means to maintain axial alignment of said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means comprising a disc fixed to said shaft, recesses in said disc engaged by projections on the hub section of said steering Wheel, springs maintaining said projections in engagement with said recesses, and a switch disposed to be operable by universal movement of said steering Wheel.

7. A combination steering Wheel and signaling means for automobiles and the like, comprising a rotatably mounted shaft a steering Wheel, universal mounting means intermediate said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means including means to maintain axial alignment of said shaft and said steering wheel, said universal mounting means comprising, a disc fixed to said shaft, projections on said disc engaging recesses in the hub section of said steering Wheel, springs maintaining said projections in engagement with said recesses, a switch disposed within an enclosing member, said enclosing member fixed to the hub section of the steering wheel, said switch disposed to be operable by universal movement of said steering Wheel.

WILLIAM PITT. 

